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Craig Arnold and Adam Barrow from our RTC team have been featured in the latest edition of Expert Witness journal, contributing an article that examines the increasing role of vehicle‑borne digital data in road traffic collision investigations. Craig is Hawkins’ RTC Development Manager, based in Manchester, and Adam is an Associate in our London office.
In the article, Fraud or Force: Using Objective Crash Data in Personal Injury Claims, Craig explores the use of Event Data Recorders (EDRs) and how they are reshaping best practice for insurers, solicitors and expert witnesses. Drawing on real‑world case examples, he explains how EDR data can provide objective insight into vehicle speed, braking, restraint use and crash dynamics, often proving critical in establishing liability, challenging inconsistent accounts, and identifying fraudulent or exaggerated claims. Adam discusses how EDR evidence can support injury causation and biomechanical analysis when interpreted alongside physical vehicle damage and medical evidence.
The article highlights the importance of early action where digital vehicle data may be available. Craig outlines a practical framework for identifying whether EDR data is likely to exist, ensuring appropriately qualified experts are instructed, and preserving the relevant control modules before vehicles are disposed of or data is overwritten. The article also underlines that, while digital data should not be viewed in isolation, it can significantly strengthen investigations when combined with traditional forensic methods. As Adam notes, digital data can also be vital in determining occupant injury causation and the biomechanics of road collisions.
Craig is a Chartered Forensic Practitioner in Collision Investigation with nearly two decades of experience investigating road traffic collisions in the UK and internationally. A specialist in digital evidence, he has extensive expertise in Event Data Recorders, tachographs, telematics and forensic video analysis, and is a Level 4 LEVA certified forensic video technician. Before joining Hawkins, Craig was Technical Lead for the Forensic Investigations team at the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL), where he led complex investigative and research projects, including work for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
An experienced expert witness, Craig regularly provides evidence in Civil, Criminal and Coroners’ Courts and has acted as a Single Joint Expert and at public inquiries. He is Honorary Secretary of the Chartered Society of Forensic Science, a peer reviewer for SAE and Elsevier, and sits on the editorial board of Science & Justice.
Adam is a road traffic collision reconstruction expert with over 13 years of experience. Holding degrees in Biomedical Sciences and Biomechanics from the University of Manchester, he has a deep understanding of crash dynamics and injury mechanisms. Adam previously led the Collision Research team at the UK’s Transport Research Laboratory, managing the award-winning National Highways Fatality Research Programme, and later contributed to major safety initiatives at WSP, including Smart Motorway upgrades. His expertise spans collision analysis, vehicle safety, injury biomechanics, and road system safety.
Read the full article on page 30-34 of Expert Witness Journal here.Â
